eleemosynary
Americanadjective
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of or relating to alms, charity, or charitable donations; charitable.
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derived from or provided by charity.
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dependent on or supported by charity.
an eleemosynary educational institution.
adjective
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of, concerned with, or dependent on charity
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given as an act of charity
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of eleemosynary
First recorded in 1610–20; from Medieval Latin eleēmosynārius, equivalent to Late Latin eleēmosyn(a) ( see alms) + Latin -ārius -ary
Explanation
Eleemosynary is an adjective that describes things that are related to charitable giving, especially when you're talking about assistance to the poor. Monetary donations to eleemosynary institutions are usually tax deductible. Eleemosynary comes from the Latin word eleemosyna, which means alms, the historic term for money or food given to the poor. Eleemosyna is rooted in the Greek word eleos, meaning mercy. You can use the word eleemosynary today when you mean pertaining to or dependent on charitable giving. If you say, "Eleemosynary contributions commence with one's own domicile," then you've found a verbose way to say, "Charity begins at home."
Vocabulary lists containing eleemosynary
Be Nice!
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'Tis The Season: Words For Giving
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Society and Solitude
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A moment of levity came as Justice Mechan decided they would strike the convoluted word "eleemosynary" - used here as legalese for charitable - from the instructions.
From BBC ● May 21, 2024
It’s fair to presume that one purpose of all this eleemosynary activity is to obscure the less uplifting ways that the rich deploy their wealth.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 13, 2023
Still, the eleemosynary impulse is alive and well — not just surviving but booming despite the pandemic and polarization.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 24, 2021
A hoarding of natural resources, especially those that are agriculturally based, would cause the cost of humanitarian aid to become unaffordable, especially when there is so little capital for eleemosynary efforts because of ruined economies.
From Time Magazine Archive
It is perfectly astounding to contemplate that official authority sanctions such inconsistent teaching, and moreover disseminates it far and wide, forcing its circulation by giving it away gratuitously on humane and eleemosynary grounds.
From Prairie Farmer, Vol. 56: No. 4, January 26, 1884 A Weekly Journal for the Farm, Orchard and Fireside by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
